3 things NFL Draft taught us about the Baltimore Ravens defense

What did we learn about the Baltimore Ravens defense in the 2019 NFL Draft?

1. The Ravens have confidence in their linebackers:

The Baltimore Ravens have confidence in Peanut Onwuasor and Kenny Young. The Ravens didn’t make an addition to the linebacker position through free agency or the NFL Draft. If the Ravens were going to make a major move at the position, they would have done it already. They would have signed a player like Zach Brown or at least drafted an interior linebacker. The idea that the Ravens didn’t like the linebacker crop in this draft may be well and true, but not adding a piece to the linebacker corps looks like a ringing endorsement of the players they already have.

The second that C.J. Mosley signed with the New York Jets there was a rush to call the defense dismantled or decimated. The inside linebacker position is the least proven position on the defense. The defensive line has Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce as proven commodities. The secondary has an established star in Earl Thomas and very respected cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr.

Even the outside linebacker position, which lost Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith in free agency has Matt Judon as a dependable player. Patrick Onwuasor has come a long way as an undrafted free agent, but being the quarterback of the defense is a big step up for him. Kenny Young is coming off a decent rookie season, but he had a small sample size and has a lot he has to work on.

The Ravens could still add an inside linebacker via free agency. The post draft free agent market is often the most underrated way to add to the depth chart. That being said the complete lack of urgency from Eric DeCosta to add an inside linebacker is great news for Onwuasor, Young and even Chris Board.